In this study, surface and wastewater in Çorlu, Tekirdağ has been monitored for ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), salicylic acid as an analgesic and caffeine. For this goal, samples were collected from 5 areas during winter and summer times (W1, W2, W3, W4 and W5) working in the field of a wastewater treatment plant site, only Çerkezköy industrial district W4. Different solid-phase extractions, pH and derivatization conditions were tested with some anti-inflammatory drugs and caffeine of Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in environment samples and their identification and quantification at trace levels were made (ng L-1). Diclofenac (LOQ = 4.3 ng L-1) and ibuprofen (LOQ = 134.1 ng L-1) could not be determined. Other concentration levels of arranged drugs range between 2.12 -13.58 ng L-1 naproxen, 15.74-18.74 ng L-1 salicylic acid and 5.8-121.2 ng L-1 caffeine.

3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) is a hardly biodegradable and hydrolysable compound, characterized as a persistent pollutant for water, soil and sediment and highly toxic for living organisms. In this work, the impact of different micrometeorological conditions on uptake of 3,4-DCA was investigated in maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown hydroponically. For this purpose, seedlings of a uniform vigor were developed in appropriate nutrient solution supplied with an initial amount of 3,4-DCA (growth solution) under controlled high light (HL) and low light intensity (LL) conditions and under high (HH) and low relative humidity (LH) conditions in the combinations of HL/HH, LL/HH and HL/LH. Plants grown under HL/LH were replenished with the initial amount of 3,4-DCA after 48 h from the application of the growth solution (AGS). The measurements which took place were related to the uptake of 3,4-DCA and of growth solution by plants. Also, the fresh weight of plants was measured. Results showed that maize was capable of removing noticeably high amounts of 3,4-DCA (up to three quarters of the initial amount) from the growth solution after completion of the first 24 h period from AGS, irrespective of micrometeorological conditions. It was also demonstrated that almost the whole available amount of 3,4-DCA was removed from the growth solution after a 48 h period from AGS under HL/LH. Plants under these conditions removed a significantly higher volume of growth solution compared to the HH conditions, irrespective of measurement time. The significant increase of the 3,4-DCA uptake (almost the whole available amount) by maize plants which were replenished with this compound under LH compared to HH, indicated a considerable capability of these plants to remove high concentrations of 3,4-DCA from the growth solution after 72 h from AGS. The fresh weight of maize plants under the examined micrometeorological conditions did not change significantly in the majority of the cases, as regards to different micrometeorological conditions. On the contrary, this plant parameter was significantly higher in 3rd compared to 1st measurement day in all examined conditions. The increase of 3,4-DCA uptake rates by maize plants grown under low relative humidity conditions, 72 hrs from AGS, could be associated with the expected acceleration of the plants transpiration rates and with the plant growth rate, as expressed by the fresh weight, as in these conditions plants remove considerably high volume of growth solution. The information obtained from the aforementioned results on plant uptake of 3,4-DCA in maize plants could be a first step in designing suitable management practices such as phytoremediation strategies which might reduce environmental pollution.

The effects of pH, NOM concentration, fractions and the chlorine dose on the formation and speciation of THMs and HAAs were determined in Altinapa Dam water (Konya/Turkey). Water sample was isolated and chlorinated at different TOC levels and pH’s. The isolate was fractioned; THM and HAA species were measured after chlorination. THM increased with increasing pH (6 to 8) whereas a consistent pH tendency could not be inferred from the HAA changes. CF is the dominant THM specie which exerts up to 91% of the total THM. The majority of total HAAs composed of MCAA, DCAA and TCAA. The hydrophobic fraction was the main THM precursor under the studied conditions although their percentage was lower than hydrophilics, whereas, hydrophilic fraction had significant contribution to HAA formation, in contrast to the general tendency for HAA. High correlation (0.97) was calculated between total THMs and HAAs.

The aim of this study was to compare particulate matter (PM) pollutants performed at three different enclosed parking garages (A, B and C) and two streets (1 and 2) in Belgium. Particle mass concentrations, number concentrations and their size distributions were measured in real time using an Electrical Low Pressure Impactor Plus (ELPI+) instrument. PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 particle ranges were characterized under this study and these concentrations were compared with the reference values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the European Union (EU). The results showed that the average mass concentrations in the garages ranged from 28-50 µg Nm-3 for PM1, 43-60 µg Nm-3 for PM2.5 and 58-90 µg Nm-3 for PM10, while in the streets they varied from 14-18 µg Nm-3 for PM1, 23-27 µg Nm-3 for PM2.5 and 54-59 µg Nm-3 for PM10 respectively. The number concentrations were obtained in the range of 28x103 to 47x103 particles cm-3 for the garages while 17x103 to 22x103 particlescm-3 for the streets. In all garages, it has been observed that PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 24h reference values recommended by WHO and USEPA while and PM10 concentrations exceeded WHO and EU guidelines. Particle number size distributions showed dominant quantities of fine particles in all measurements, while two distinct particle sizes of coarse and fine modes were observed in the mass size distributions.

This study examined the toxicity potential of total suspended particulate in the airshed of a haulage vehicle park located in a major highway connecting Lagos, the commercial centre of Nigeria to its other parts. It has an approximate area of 0.6 km2. Ambient air total suspended particulates (TSP) were monitored at five different sub- parks using the GT331 particulate monitor. A control sampling point was also set at about a kilometer southward of the sub-parks. The average measured particulate concentrations within the park ranged between 197.07 and 653.28 µg m-3 with an average of 334.5 µg m-3 but at the control point, it was between 18.5 and 46.6 µg m-3 with an average of 36.23 µg m-3. An assessment of toxicity potential of these particulates shows unhealthy air conditions at the haulage park. It was between 0.58 and 6.00 at the park’s sampling points but ranged between 0.11 and 0.33 at the control location. This study establishes that haulage vehicles may contribute significantly to its host airshed degraded air quality thus calls for appropriate regulatory measure to protect commuters plying the major highway around the park.

The unintended release of hydrocarbons into the environment can negatively impact human and animal health, and could further change the characteristics of soils. The aim of the present work was to investigate the rate of biodegradation at 10 and 20% diesel fuel in contaminated soil amended with 10% of three different organic wastes (tea leaf, soy cake, and potato skin) for a period of 126-days. 82 and 25% oil loss was recorded in soil amended with soy cake at 10% and 20 % oil pollution, respectively. Diesel fuel utilizing bacteria counts were high in all organic wastes amended treatments, ranging from 150×106 to 176 ×106 CFU g-1 of soil, compared with the unamended control soil which gave 23 ×106 CFU g-1. Dehydrogenase activity in soil was markedly enhanced by the application of organic wastes. Diesel oil composition monitored by GC/MS indicated complete degradation of n-C9 – C12. First-order kinetic model showed that among the three organic wastes used, soy cake had the highest biodegradation rate constant of 0.153 day−1 at 10% oil pollution, while biodegradation rate was 0.033 day−1 at 20% oil pollution. The results showed there is potential for soy cake, potato skin and tea leaf to enhance biodegradation of diesel in contaminated soil.

This study examines stabilization/solidification (S/S) techniques for coal ash/cement systems that involve the production of construction products while minimizing contamination and recycling the coal ash (CA). In these techniques, the polluted components of coal ash are fixed in a cement body via adsorption and confinement mechanisms, and thus, the possible impact of these pollutants on the environment is minimized. In the first step of this study, the physical, chemical, radioactive and mineralogical properties of the material used were determined. Second, coal ash (CA) was used to replace portland cement (PC) in the following proportions: 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40% and 50% of PC by weight. Finally, the usability of coal ash as a construction product and the environmental effects of such usage were determined.

The performance of a laboratory scale electrocoagulation system for the removal of Cr and Ni from model wastewater was studied systematically using iron and aluminum electrodes with an effective surface area of 13.8 cm2 and a distance of 4 cm. The influence of several parameters, such as initial concentration, electrode combination, current supply and initial pH was investigated during electrocoagulation process. The increase in initial concentration favored removal rate, did not affect nickel removal, but restricted chromium removal, thus indicating its required mechanism of reducing hexavalent ion to trivalent. The best removal efficiency, when metals existed separately in treated solutions, was accomplished with the use of iron electrodes for Cr (50%) and with aluminum electrodes for Ni (90%). When metals co-existed, iron electrodes achieved the best result, which was 76% for Cr and 82% for Ni, leaving 30 mg l-1 and 17 mg l-1 of residual concentrations, respectively, after 180 min of treatment. Solutions’ nominal pH appeared to be optimal, since increasing or decreasing their initial value did not benefit the electrocoagulation process. Chromium and nickel simultaneous removal was best achieved for conditions of 100 mg l-1 initial concentration, pH 5 and a current of 0.8 A.

The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the performance of Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) for the removal of individual trihalomethanes (THMs) from chlorinated drinking water, Athens, Greece. The pilot treatment facility was located at the Water Treatment Plant of EYDAP (Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company) in Galatsi, Athens, and consisted of two mixing tanks operating as open batch reactors, which were fed with chlorinated water from the overflow of the sedimentation tanks. Experimental cycles were performed, with different PAC doses ranging from 5 to 50 mg L-1 and with contact times 30 and 60 min for each cycle. Water samples taken at the start of each cycle and after contact with PAC, were analysed for individual THMs and Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC). Bromide, free residual chlorine, pH and temperature were also measured. From the experimental results, it was shown that all THMs concentrations were decreased after PAC contact, the decrease being higher for higher PAC dose and higher contact time, with few exceptions. This fact probably indicates that adsorption rate plus volatilisation rate of THMs overcame formation rate, in most cases. It was also concluded that volatilisation and possible formation reactions of THMs had probably a more apparent effect to the total removal of most THMs at low PAC doses and low contact time. At higher PAC doses and higher contact time, PAC adsorption probably had an increased contribution to THMs removal, because of the larger carbon surface area and the longer contact time, resulting in higher adsorbed mass according to adsorption theory. By using isotherm results of individual THMs on activated carbon by other researchers, the theoretically adsorbed mass of THMs per g of PAC was roughly estimated and compared with the measured removed mass of THMs per g of PAC at PAC dose 50 mg L-1 and contact time 60 min for most THMs, on the assumption of equilibrium achievement. The removed mass of THMs by PAC appeared much higher than the theoretically adsorbed, especially for the most volatile members. The difference was attributed to volatilisation taking place in the open mixing tanks. In conclusion, the practical results from the application of PAC for the removal of THMs are much better than expected from single adsorption by PAC. Volatility of THMs, especially of chloroform (TCM), substitutes for weak adsorbability and gives increased removal. The influent DOC was almost constant in all experiments. The removal of DOC was generally higher for increased PAC dose and contact time. Although equilibration cannot have happened for DOC, the mass removal of DOC per g of PAC was higher by more than two orders of size than that of the smaller and in lower concentration THMs, as expected.

The use of organic manures as amendments to improve soil organic matter level and long term soil fertility and productivity is gaining importance. The disposal of the great quantity of organic wastes produced by the municipal, agricultural and agroindustrial activities, is causing energetic, economic and environmental problems. Sludge composting and using them in agriculture should be a priority for their disposal. Sludge should be treated not as a waste but as a valuable non-farm sources of organic matter to soil. The composting process is a useful method of producing a stabilized material that can be used as a source of nutrients and soil conditioner in fields. The objective of this study was estimation of optimal dose of sewage sludge in composting mixture to obtain of mature and stable compost. The mixture was prepared from sewage sludge (10-40%), organic fraction of MSW(30%), grass (20-50%), sawdust as a bulking agents. Maximum temperature in the bioreactor reached 68.9°C between 1st and 3rd day of composting, and the mean temperature during this period fluctuated from 36 to 46°C. Later, the temperature gradually decreased and after 30 days of composting it approached ambient air temperature which means the end of process. There was significant impact of the high temperature on the rate of the process and of the extent of the hygienisation. The results show that all initial samples are infected with helminth eggs but there is a large variation in the degree of infection for the different sludge samples (102 to 256 eggs kg-1 d.m.). The inactivation of the helminth eggs in the compost can be accomplished, if the temperature inside of the reactor is sufficient as in the case M III and M IV. The final compost M III and M IV was well sanitized as a result of the high temperature achieved due to higher grass addition in those mixtures. Composts M I and M II can not be used in agriculture because of bad microbiological characteristic, however MII can be used for recultivation after hygienisation. The composted material assumed the appearance and structure similar to the so-called horticultural soil. As an exothermic process, composting caused very high loss of water in composted material. All the composts were granular, dark grey in color without foul odor and attained an ambient temperature after 30 days of composting, indicating the stable nature of composts. Additional researches are required in order to optimize the better organic and nitrogen compounds degradation during co-composting process.